Swimming pool cover

ABSTRACT

The method for and device to cover a swimming pool in which a sheet is disposed over the swimming pool, and a plurality of water filled tubes positioned on the sheet adjacent to the edge of the swimming pool to hold it down, the tubes being filled with water, and loops embracing the water filled tubes to secure the tubes in position on top of the cover.

United States Patent [191 Katzman [451 Jan. 23, 1973 [5 SWIMMING POOLCOVER 3,509,585 5 1970 Solomon ..4/172.12 [76] Inventor: FrederickKatzman, 372 Hamilton Bwlevardv Summit, 08854 3,667,070 6/1972 mm et al...4/172.12 [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis[211 177,499 Attorney-Popper, Bain, Bobis & Gilfillan 52 11.8. CI..4/172.12 ABSTRACT [51] hit. Cl. ..E04h 3/16, E9411 3/18 The method forand device to cover a i i l [58] Field Of Search....4/l72.l2, 172.13,17214, 172 in which a Sheet is disposed over the i i pool and aplurality of water filled tubes positioned on the [56] References C'tedsheet adjacent to the edge of the swimming pool to UNITED STATES PATENTShold it down, the tubes being filled with water, and loops embracing thewater filled tubes to secure the 2,883,676 4/1959 Kwake ..4/l72.l2 tubesin position on top of the cover. 3,077,610 2/1963 Gazdik 3,353,309ll/l967 Kwake ..4/l72.l2 UX 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH23I973 3.711.873

FIG. 1

A INVENTOR -a. M i v FREDERICK KATZMAN BY Wpmfim/ M a ATTORNEYS SWIMMINGPOOL COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to swimming pool covers generally, and specifically toswimming pool covers in which a plurality of water filled tubes securethe cover in place and are positioned on the swimming pool cover byloops embracing the tubes.

2. PRIOR ART Numerous swimming pool covers have been devised forcovering swimming pools during periods when they are not in use, inorder to keep out children and animals that might fall in and drown, inorder to keep out dust, dirt and leaves during the winter, and topreserve the cleanliness of the pool. These pool covers are of the kindwhich are usually positioned over the pool by being attached to anchors,being secured in place by laces, or by being provided with a continuoustube filled with water attached to the cover along its boarder, andholding the cover slackly in place (Kwake U.S. Pat. No. 2,833,676;Gazdik U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,610; Sanford U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,816). Thesecovers are heavy, difficult to adjust, difficult to handle, take a longtime to fill, and a long time to empty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has been found that a swimming pool covermay be prepared which is light in weight and easy to position, easy toanchor in place, and easy to move. Such a cover is one which extendsover the swimming pool and on the marginal portions thereof. At themarginal portions of the swimming pool where the cover overlays it,there are provided numerous straps or loops which are secured to thecover. A plurality of separate, relatively short tubes are providedwhich are passed through these loops or straps, and are then filled withwater. The weight of these tubes is sufficient to anchor the cover inplace by resting on it, and the straps keeping the tubes in position, sothat the cover will not be displaced. They hold the water filled tubesin place on the cover. The tubes being devised to be of such shortlength as to be easy to handle whether empty or filled with water. Thecover is easily adjustable and the weight of the plurality of the tubesis sufficient to keep the cover in place around the edge of the swimmingpool, and to keep out dirt.

DRAWINGS The foregoing objects and advantages, as well as other objectsand advantages may be achieved by the device shown by illustration inthe drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cover with water filled tubes in placeon top of the cover;

FIG. 2 is aperspective view of a portion of the cover showing loopsattached spaced inwardly from the edge;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the cover in another formshowing loops attached close to the edge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cover and loops shown in FIG. 3 withthe loops disposed outwardly to receive the tubes;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a tube retained on the cover restingon it;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a short water tube; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a cover with strapsattached in two places.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS side of the swimmingpool. A plurality of straps orloops- 13 are attached to the cover in order to receive tubes 14. Thesestraps 13 are attached to the cover 11 by stitches l5 and are spacedinwardly from the edge thereof, but extend toward the edge of the coveras shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Tubes 14 are prepared with sealable waterports 16 and each tube 14 is placed on the cover 11 near its edge, andpassed through the straps 13 so that the tube 14 rests on the cover 11.The cappable opening or water filler port 16 is then opened and the tubeis filled with water 17. The cap is then applied to seal the opening 16.The tube 14, being filled with water 17 lies upon the cover 11 and holdsit down. Other tubes 14 are inserted in other straps 13 and similarlyfilled with water 17 until all of the straps 13 are occupied by tubes 14and the weight of the tubes 14 on the cover where they rest on thecoping 12 or edge of the swimming pool, hold the cover 11 in place.

Instead ,of the straps 13 being attached to the cover 11 each at onepoint spaced inwardly from the edge of the cover 11 and extendingoutwardly as loops toward the edge of the cover, as shown in FIG. 2, analternative form of the invention may be utilized as is illustrated inFIG. 3 wherein the straps 13 may be attached to the cover near its edgesand extending inwardly as loops. It is also noted that instead of thestraps 13 being secured to the cover 11 only at one point, they may alsobe secured by stitches 15 to the cover at two points, as shown in FIG.7, each of which points generally represents the length of the strap 13with sufficient extra length to form a loop over the cover 11 to receivethe tubes. A single loop may be sufficient to receive and hold a waterfilled tube 14, but it is preferred that each tube shall be received bymore than one loop 13 as shown in FIG. 1. The tubes 14 may be providedin various lengths. It is preferred, however, that each tube should befor convenience approximately 6m 10 feet long. The straps 13 may beattached to the cover 11 at intervals of 4 or 5 feet. The cover 11 maybe of the mesh variety, or it may be a plastic sheet. Each tube 14 needonly be provided with one filler port 16. By reason of the tube's l4relatively short length, it is not necessary to provide it any tube withan air exhaust port. The loops may also be secured to the cover by heatsealing.

The short tubes are easy to handle, and are inserted in the straps 13before being filled with water 17. They are easily shifted with thecover, even after being filled, to stretch the cover taut over the pool.Being short, the tubes are easy to fill and drain. Unlike a continuoustube, one puncture does not ruin the cover, for the d efective tube canbe replaced. Even though the tubes may not lay evenly, they maynevertheless hold the cover tightly.

DEFINITION The term strap as used herein means: 1. A flat piece ofmaterial fastened at both ends to a cover or;

2. A folded piece of material the ends of which are fastened together toa sheet in both of which cases a means for holding a water tube attachedto a sheet is formed.

The term loop as used herein means:

I. A strap folded upon itself and fastened by its ends together to asheet in which case a loop for encircling and holding a water tube isformed, with the folded end free.

I claim:

1. A swimming pool cover comprising:

a. a sheet,

b. the sheet dimensioned larger than the size of a swimming pool,

c. a plurality of straps defining loops attached to the sheet,

d. the straps attached generally on that portion of the sheet which islarger than the swimming pool,

e. a plurality of tubes for containing a liquid,

f. a water port in each of the water tubes,

g. means to seal the water ports,

h. each of the water tubes adapted to be inserted through at least oneof the loops.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

. the device according to claim 1 and,

. wherein the liquid to be contained in the tubes is water.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

. the device according to claim 1 and,

. the tubes lying on a portion of that portion of the sheet which islarger than the swimming pool when said cover is in place.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

a. the device according to claim 1 and,

FUN

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b. the tubes lying adjacent to the sheet when said cover is in place.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

. the device according to claim 1 and,

. the straps are attached to the sheet at points spaced inwardly fromthe edge of the sheet.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

. the device according to claim 1 and,

. the straps are attached to the sheet at points along the edge of thesheet.

. A swimming pool cover comprising:

. the device according to claim 1 and,

each strap attached to the sheet at two points generally defining a lineperpendicular to the edge of the cover, but outside the portion of thesheet that covers the swimming pool.

8. A swimming pool cover comprising:

a. the device according to claim 1,

b. wherein the liquid to be contained in the tubes is water,

c. the tubes lying on a portion of that portion of the sheet which islarger than the swimming pool, and,

d. the tubes collectively defining generally at least a portion of theoutline of the swimming pool.

9. A swimming pool cover comprising:

a. the device according to claim 8 and,

b. the weight of the tubes when filled with water being sufficient tohold the sheet tautly over the swimming pool.

10. A swimming pool cover comprising:

a. the device according to claim 1 and,

b. the sheet being made of material impenetrable to fluids.

1. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. a sheet, b. the sheetdimensioned larger than the size of a swimming pool, c. a plurality ofstraps defining loops attached to the sheet, d. the straps attachedgenerally on that portion of the sheet which is larger than the swimmingpool, e. a plurality of tubes for containing a liquid, f. a water portin each of the water tubes, g. means to seal the water ports, h. each ofthe water tubes adapted to be inserted through at least one of theloops.
 2. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. the device according toclaim 1 and, b. wherein the liquid to be contained in the tubes iswater.
 3. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. the device according toclaim 1 and, b. the tubes lying on a portion of that portion of thesheet which is larger than the swimming pool when said cover is inplace.
 4. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. the device according toclaim 1 and, b. the tubes lying adjacent to the sheet when said cover isin place.
 5. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. the device accordingto claim 1 and, b. the straps are attached to the sheet at points spacedinwardly from the edge of the sheet.
 6. A swimming pool covercomprising: a. the device according to claim 1 and, b. the straps areattached to the sheet at points along the edge of the sheet.
 7. Aswimming pool cover comprising: a. the device according to claim 1 and,b. each strap attached to the sheet at two points generally defining aline perpendicular to the edge of the cover, but outside the portion ofthe sheet that covers the swimming pool.
 8. A swimming pool covercomprising: a. the device according to claim 1, b. wherein the liquid tobe contained in the tubes is water, c. the tubes lying on a portion ofthat portion of the sheet which is larger than the swimming pool, and,d. the tubes collectively defining generally at least a portion of theoutline of the swimming pool.
 9. A swimming pool cover comprising: a.the device according to claim 8 and, b. the weight of the tubes whenfilled with water being sufficient to hold the sheet tautly over theswimming pool.
 10. A swimming pool cover comprising: a. the deviceaccording to claim 1 and, b. the sheet being made of materialimpenetrable to fluids.